Overnight, Alfonso Soriano/New York Yankees rumors popped up like wild fire, tracing back to a report from George King at the New York Post. King reports that the Yankees, desperate for pop, are “close” to acquiring Soriano from the Cubs. In the purported deal, the Cubs would pay the bulk of Soriano’s remaining contract (which pays him $18 million this and next year) and would get a “mid-level prospect” in return.

“Mid-level prospect” is a flabby term – it could mean mid-level, in terms of quality, or mid-level, in terms of where he’s currently playing – but I’d be surprised to see the Cubs deal Soriano at this point and eat most of his salary unless they were getting something decent in return. There’s no one obvious to push him out of the lineup at AAA, and he’s a great veteran, clubhouse presence. No reason to dump him *and* eat salary for nothing.

This is all subject to Soriano’s approval, of course, as he holds full no-trade rights. While we believe he would accept a trade to the Yankees, we won’t know until he’s actually presented with a deal.

So, the real question this time of year … how legit is this report? Well, King is a legitimate reporter, and he wouldn’t shoot a Soriano rumor out into the feeding frenzy of the New York media unless there were legs. In support of King’s report, Jon Heyman generally confirms the Yankees are getting close to acquiring Soriano. Buster Olney says that, previously, the two sides had discussed a deal, but the Yankees weren’t willing to take on cash – but that has changed. Gordon Wittenmyer says the talks are ongoing and serious, but nothing is “imminent.” Dave Kaplan hears that the Cubs are working on multiple Soriano deals.

We’ll see what happens today, or if this turns into an ongoing thing.

UPDATE (6:44am CT): Bob Nightengale says that Yankees “surely have no worries that Alfonso Soriano will waive no trade clause.” Before the season, Soriano indicated that he would be willing to accept a trade once the Cubs had fallen out of contention, which they have. He was looking to go to a contender, preferably on the East Coast. Check, check. I do believe Soriano probably would waive his no-trade rights in a deal that sends him to the Yankees. But you just never know until you know.

UPDATE 3 (6:57am CT): As of this morning, Jon Heyman says the Cubs and Yankees are still talking, but “there’s work to do.” I wonder if George King’s definition of “close” and ours would be different. That is to say, if this drags on for days, in King’s mind, he might not have been wrong – “close,” to him, might only mean that the two sides are working on a specific deal, and it might happen soon.

UPDATE 4 (7:20am CT): Buster Olney has a write-up (insider, if you want the whole thing) on the trade talks, as of this morning, and he says a deal is not close. There is a lot of ground to cover on the financial side of things, and on what prospect(s) the Cubs will get back. It sounds as though Olney is saying King jumped the gun on this one.

UPDATE 5 (7:25am CT): Ken Rosenthal’s full write-up is now posted, as well, and it’s similar to Olney’s. The sides are deep in discussions – this is a serious thing, not just a casual chat – but no agreement has been reached. The financial side of things is particularly sticky, given the Yankees’ desire to get under the luxury tax cap next year (while still being able to re-sign Robinson Cano). To that end, they’ll probably want the Cubs to cover the vast majority of Soriano’s 2014 salary ($18 million), even if the Yankees pay much of what Soriano is owed for the rest of this season (about $7.25 million). If the Cubs are going to do that, though, Rosenthal says they’ll want a good prospect (as they should).

UPDATE 6 (8:19am CT): If you haven’t seen it, I have my own update to offer on the financial side of this deal. Acquiring Soriano could actually help the Yankees in their quest to get under the $189 million luxury tax cap next year. Here’s how.

UPDATE 7 (8:24am CT): Joel Sherman implies that the Cubs are looking at late-inning relief prospects in a deal for Soriano, noting that the Cubs had recently scouted AAA reliever Chase Whitley. The 24-year-old righty has decent numbers through his minor league career, but he doesn’t quite have the K/BB numbers that you’d like to see from a true relief prospect.

UPDATE 8 (10:06am CT): Bruce Levine reports that the Yankees’ top scout has been following the Cubs on this road trip. The question is whether he’s watching solely Soriano, or if other pieces could be involved.

UPDATE 9 (10:27am CT): Jed Hoyer was just on MLBN Radio (h/t Tony Andracki), saying that the rumor is getting way ahead of the actual talks here, and that no deal for Soriano is close. That’s pretty much what you’d expect him to say, but it also could very well be true, given the reporting so far.

I definitely don’t believe that Soriano counts as “trash”. The contract quickly became pretty ugly, but we’ll definitely miss his attitude on the team and his presence in the locker room.

EQ76

His contract wasn’t pretty but he did produce for us. Dude was good for 25-30 hrs and did ok. Problem was we paid for a 40/40 guy.and got a 30/10 guy instead

Jay

And a 30-10 guy who put up most of those numbers in garbage time except for the couple of times a year he got hot for a week. And a guy who was more afraid of the wall than Superman is of kryptonite. And a guy who should have been fined about three dozen times for standing at home plate admiring homers that didn’t make it out of the park. I don’t know about paying his whole freight, but at this point he’s a sunk cost and if we need to pay most of it to get back a real high-level arm instead of just a warm body for the farm, then do it.

Carytid62

This is why I hate cubs fans.

MichiganGoat

Yup and the same people still believe Campana has value.

Edwin

Campana does have value. Just not that much, and not as a starter.

Eternal Pessemist

Jay has somewhat of a point. The Cubs did pay for a 40-40 guy (or maybe a 50-50 guy). He did have some bad habits, but he has been a great professional over the last couple of years in particular, so I wouldn’t criticize him too much for his production…unless his name comes up under the biogenesis thing.

Feeney

He’s provided about 8WAR in his 7 seasons in Chicago. I like the way he’s developed into a good clubhouse guy and a mentor to the young guys. But that’s not a great return. He hits some home runs when the weather heats up but he hasn’t been much of a player since about 2008.

Feeney

That’s BR totals for WAR. Fangraphs is more kind to Sori at 8.5 WAR in that time.

hansman1982

The funniest part of it all…Soriano was one of the better “Over 4-years” contracts of the last 6 years.

Scotti

The guy DID get injured. The guy DID battle back from that injury (when many others would have just cashed their checks).

DocPeterWimsey

Who are these guys who just cash in their paychecks?

Scotti

Who would have just cashed their checks? Better question is who is known as a guy who improved his defense through hard work late into had career? Another would be who, in his late 30’s, was known for his dedication to working out? Mark Grace? Kirby Puckett? Tony Gwynn? Babe Ruth? No to all of them. Andre Dawson? Yes, he was known for his hard work and was given the credit for it. Of course, he wasn’t working out in suck-ass DR facilities in the off season that were deemed insufficient for 16 and 17-y/o but, hey, not everyone can be as inspirational as Soriano.

DocPeterWimsey

heh, nobody worked out ever in Babe Ruth’s day. As for the other comparisons, those are just hearsay: remember, what was “known” was what the sports reporters claimed: but time and time again we learn how inaccurate that is.

Scotti

Hearsay like from Grace’s mouth? Or Gwynn and Puckett’s waistlines? In regard to Ruth, while working out in his age wasn’t common, it was done (Thorpe) and let’s just say that Ruth was on the FAR end of the spectrum when it came to staying in shape/dedication to bettering his abilities. Yes, he was the greatest player ever. No, he didn’t take care of himself in the same manner that even his contemporaries did.

Regarding Soriano (just added Soriano to my Swype dictionary so watch him get traded RIGHT NOW), we know that his managers (plural) have bragged on his work ethic–he’s 99th percentile. He has busted his can for every cent in that contract, AND played injured, when he simply didn’t have to. When asked why (in so many words) his reply isn’t that he’s a great guy but, rather, that he loves the game. Just like many of us, he loves the game. For that he gets his ass booed for just about any mistake he makes.

http://twitter.com/Brad_S_Brewer Brad Brewer

Jeez dude… I agree that Sori’s contract was bloated and too high for the level of play we received, but last time I checked, it was the deal that was presented to Soriano. Why the heck wouldn’t he have taken it? “Oh no, sorry guys, that’s far too much!” Lol.

I agree that sometimes when looking at Sori’s performance COMPARED to the contract it was disheartening, but if you looked at Sori for just what he was as a player, he has been hands down our best offensive weapon for years. Let’s not just act like he has been a bum. That would be just acting like a fool who knows nothing of baseball.

ssckelley

Good comment, you cannot blame Soriano for his contract he is getting paid what the market allowed for his performance at that time. Obviously he is not playing up to those levels anymore but he is still a decent player who had turned himself into a respectable outfielder. When Soriano gets hot at the plate he can carry a team.

There is a part of me that wants to see Soriano traded to open up a spot for Lake to keep playing and get prospects in return, but the other part will be sad to see him go. He has represented the Cubs well.

http://twitter.com/Brad_S_Brewer Brad Brewer

Agreed.

matt

and he’s clean….and on a day like today, you can appreciate that.

ssckelley

Good point, Soriano has never been linked to doing anything illegal.

CubsFaninMS

You do realize that if Soler, Bryant, or Baez have Soriano’s production over their career, it will be a huge success. Right? Over the life if his time in Chicago, I’ve not been fond of Soriano’s attitude either, but you consistenly hear from players and managers alike that he’s not a good clubhouse presence. Give the guy some credit.

CubsFaninMS

*is a good clubhouse presence

EQ76

Agreed. Zero reason to pay most of sori’s contract and dump him for a nothing prospect. Hopefully we get a pitching prospect in return.

MichiganGoat

Geez save some for the Blogathon Cubes.

Barry

Hurry up and make the deal Theo. I want to see Sori face Garza this week.

J. Edwards

Agreed.

DocPeterWimsey

The Yanks really do not seem like a match for the Cubs here. Sure, the Yanks could find a way to take on salary, but they’ve stuck to their claims that they really, really do not want to do so. However, they have only 3-4 really good prospects, and then a lot of “meh” guys who would not be top Ten in a good system. The Yanks are adamant that they don’t want to part with those good prospects – I guess that they’re going to join Jeter, Pettite, Posada, Cano and Rivera in another string of WS – and even one of them might seem steep for Sori. So, all of their currency is too big or too small.

This maybe preemptive. The A-Rod suspension coming may free up 26 mil in capital going forward. So if the Cubs eat over 50% of Fonzi’s contract, they are going to be able to sign 4-5 FAs if they so choose. They can Put Fonzi in LF/DH next year.
Ellsbury, McCann, et. al. might be high on their list.

Yankees have a but load of FAs, and if they drop A-Rod, they will have only around 60 mil currently slated for contracts. Figure they go in for Cano – and about 115 mil for next year. That’s our payroll plus.

I’d say, we can get a better prospect than what is being reported. I don’t think we would help the Yankees out TOO much. But will see.

Eternal Pessemist

“butt-load”

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Grammar geek… I got F’s in Adv. English in HS.

Eternal Pessemist

My proctologist would be upset with your spelling.

DarthHater

You’re supposed to be able to spell butt-load without having to take an advanced English course.

Mike Taylor (no relation)

We need catching depth, which the Yankees’ farm system has. With A-Fraud facing a possible suspension worse than the year-ending sentence dished out to Braun, the Yanks will pay for Soriano’s bat.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

that is true. Sanchez is their best one. I think we could get the one I posted below.

Good thinking…

MichiganGoat

I hope the FO is always looking for best player possible rather than looking for specific positional need when trading for “fringe” prospects. Get the most talented player you can get and let worry about the positional side of it when needed. Sure it would be awesome to find the next Molina or Posey but great catchers (especially offensive) are rare, there is always plenty of Navarros waiting to get signed each year.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Sure. I want their best too. But, if they have depth in one area, it might be a bit easier to swing not only the prospect at a specific position, but another you might covet for talent alone.

Yankees are not sitting on the talent base of Texas either. So there is that. But removing Soriano from the mix, frees up opportunities for others. So there is that. (Did anyone think this guy could go next? To the Yankees in a down year?)

I guess if we get 2 lotto ticket pitchers, I’d be not too upset.

MichiganGoat

IDK if it cost us 12M+ to get two meh lotto prospects I think I’d need to pass. Soriano is not blocking anybody right now or even next year. If the return isn’t good (unless we only have to pay a few million) then I’d wait and hold on to him. No need to just give (and pay) him a way.

twinkletoez

Soriano is one of if not my favorite player on the team, we always sit in the left field bleachers when we go to the games. He is great with the fans, great club house guy, and still being productive. That said, you are correct he is not blocking anyone from the minors but maybe the FO has an OF direction in mind for next season and him being in LF might be blocking next years OF plan? Maybe they want to get what value they can for him now because he doesn’t have a place with the team next year? Just putting my thoughts on paper (well not really on paper) here.

MichiganGoat

Agreed we don’t know what the FO is planning for next year and Soriano may not be part of that plan, but as things stand right now Soriano is no holding anybody back. Lake, Jackson, Vitters and others are not pushing him out so giving him away just to give him away makes no sense to me.

twinkletoez

Agree about this year. But again if they have plans for next year and he is not part of them, why not try and get something even if its a lottery ticket for him? What if he slumps the 2nd half or gets hurt and they can’t trade him in the off season? Do you think they would make him a bench player next season or just release him?

MichiganGoat

Thats the key… what is the plan for next year. As things stand right now there really isn’t an improvement over him, but as you said if there is a FA they are targeting or another trade they are planning then I see why you would let him go for a lotto pick.

The other side to all this is that Theo & Jed do not want other teams to see them give away a player for less than top value. They would rather hold on to him than get less than they expect.

twinkletoez

I can see that point. Would you take someone in the 12-15 rankings of the Yankees prospects? Maybe a Jordan Cote? Or am I shooting way to high on that one, or way to low for that matter?

MichiganGoat

The Yankees have a really weak system, in Pittsburgh’s system I’d be okay with that but NY’s is not very deep.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

He’s not in the long term plan at 38. Is he an OBP machine? No. He got hot – very hot – this last month. He did what Sory does.

I appreciate his remaining skills, but what do you think a 37-38 LFer is gonna bring back? If we get two guys under 23, who’s stats in say AA are not horrific, its a lotto chance I’d take. They could be bench guys at the MLB level. That turns Soriano into positive WAR (he’s at .7 now) down the road. That’s about all his contract is worth.

And he’s possibly blocking a potential FA sign, or another trade we have not envisioned yet.

MichiganGoat

I think our definitions about what a lotto ticket is when it comes to a players. I hear lotto and I hear “you have a better chance of being struck by lightening while being mauled by a bear as you are abducted by aliens than this player ever making an impact.” If the FO has plans with FA or trade and Soriano only gets in the way of that plan then sure a lotto ticket is better than the other plan. But if his value right now is only a couple of scratch offs then I don’t see the rush… especially if we are paying another team to take him.

sven-erik312

I like what you both are saying. But unless, the Cubs get cash from the Yanks or a really solid prospect, they should keep Sori. To pay the Yanks to take him and get a “marginal” prospect is not worth the benefits that he gives the team on or off the field. There is just one year left for him. Lets just suppose that the Cubs play just a bit over .500 next year and do land a wildcard spot next year. I’d sure like to have him here then.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

I believe the FO will not part without getting honest value for their move. It is contingent on HIS approval. If Soriano says no, then the conversation is totally MOOT.

If he says yes, it means he’s ready to depart. No one is holding a gun to say, ” go, we don’t want you.”

The Yankees, if interested, know all about him. We might get a surprise. That’s the good side of it.

MichiganGoat

Lets keep the whole biogenesis in context, from all reports Braun was not “dished” out this suspension he accepted this suspension vs. going through the appeals process and losing more time/money/face. He knew he couldn’t escape suspension again and instead of having the rumors, suspicion, and press continue through next year he accepted a plea to sit out the remaining of this lost season for the Brewers.

As for ARod… now the plot thickens. Braun’s acceptance (and the fact the players union didn’t stop him from doing it) tells the other players that the evidence is quite deep and they should seriously consider taking a plea deal now. I think we might see ARod retiring very soon, he was suppose to be back today but had a “set back” (I-don’t-wanna-face-the-media-itis) and now he is meeting with lawyers and agents to decide what he should do.

I also wonder if Braun is turning evidence/testimony over to MLB- the witch hunt is just starting.

BURN EM ALL

Sandberg

Braun could also have received pressure from the Brewers to accept the suspension now so he didn’t miss any games next year.

Rebuilding

I would love for it to be Luis Torrens. 22nd ranked prospect. From Pinstripe Nation: “22. Luis Torrens was the second-best international free agent in the summer of 2012, according to Baseball America. The Yankees signed the Venezuelan catcher for $1.3 million and he made his pro debut this year, hitting .294/.368/.451 in his first 57 plate appearances. Getting that type of production from a 17-year-old international free agent in stateside ball is very exciting.”

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

What do you think or know about Murphy? (I know everyone wants their best ranked prospects….)

I think Murphy is a good option, but personally I’d prefer Jose Ramirez over Campos. Just because he’s only 23 at AAA with decent numbers.

The high celing guy in the lower levels of the Yankees’ system that I would want is Bryan Mitchell. He’s got some crazy upside.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

That’s fair. I would want AAA near ready guys too. Expedite the rebuild.

Jon

The NY Post is basically a tabloid. I would take this rumor with a grain of salt

MichiganGoat

Yes in some regards but they are unique in that they actually report serious news and have good reporters on staff. They sell the sensational but they do have an actual serious news side and have reported some huge stories in its history.

Starlin Backer

Unlike that “unbiased” NY Times.

ncsujuri

I’m thinking we need an obsessive trade watch for Sori as well as Gregg. Anyone else see Grilli go down for the Bucs last night with either a forearm or elbow issue? Hello trading partner!

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Heard about it. Could XMAS be on its way to Chicago?

Eternal Pessemist

I won’t be satisfied until the Cubs have all of the leagues top 100 prospects…let the fleecing continue….

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

At least we should be able to get 25 of those to work out.

MichiganGoat

Yeah I’m awaiting to hear what the details are with Grilli, if he is out for an extended period of time (30+ days) then the Cubs should hold off on a Soriano to Yankees deal and try to package Gregg/Soriano/??? to the Bucs (unless Soriano has said NO to Pittsburgh) since they have a much deeper farm system.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

Felt really bad watching Grilli clutching his arm. I actually hope it’s nothing serious – he was a nice story on a team that, frankly, I’m pulling for.

But, yes, there are some trade implications there.

MichiganGoat

Yeah I really want the Pirates to 1-get to .500 and 2-make the playoffs- it is the best story in baseball right now.

ssckelley

I agree, I am pulling for the Pirates as well. Beat the stinkin Cardinals!

ncsujuri

To clarify my above comment, I wasn’t hoping for him to be injured by any stretch, I agree with you that they are a feel good team that deserves to be where they are and I hope they can hang on and beat the Cards. But an opportunity now exists to move Gregg that didn’t exist yesterday at this time….

Cheese Chad

They are also East Coast and he’d play the field so it seems to be a fit.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Pittsburgh will likely want us to eat more of the remaining contract, than say New York. I like the prospect grab, but I believe Neal Huntington did not build up his farm to get took by Theo/Jed. Just an opinion.

MichiganGoat

But if you need Gregg/Soriano to finally get above .500 and possibly reach the playoffs… don’t you have to make that move? Pittsburgh needs this badly and I’d argue that baseball needs this feel-good-positive story to take cleanse the palate of the the looming PED suspensions.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Pittsburgh may feel they can somehow do it…without busting out those prospects squirreled away for the day you get close.

What would you want them to give us? (And be them – not US on the trade. If you were Neal, what is your best offer for Gregg/ Schierholtz?)

MichiganGoat

Oh I’m no prospect hound and couldn’t begin to talk about their farm system below their top couple prospects (which I’d never expect to get) but I’d think we would be asking for a 5-10 range player from their farm system plus a high ceiling type of guy.

And as a GM you build a great farm system for two reason 1-so they develop into stars (more failures than successes) and 2-to trade for the players you need to compete when you get close (risky but immediate success). Pirates are at a point (if Grilli is seriously hurt) where they need to choose if they go for it this year or just continue to wait and see what happens.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

I realize that.

Pittsburgh has their success plan too. Maybe they were not expecting to compete at this level yet? What if they truly think their current prospects are it, down to say their 7th, knowing 3 or 4 will likely fail.

I am no prospect expert either.

If we do a deal, I suspect it will not be anywhere like Texas’s. Texas has seen the promise land twice, the Pirates, none of them even been down the yellow brick road. They were barely alive when they last did.

MichiganGoat

Oh I’m not expecting anything close to what we got from Texas but if we going to pay most of Soriano’s salary then we should get close to a Top 10 organizational prospect vs. a couple of high risk meh prospects.

If we could get anything close to one of the three we got from Texas for Soriano I’d be happy.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Pittsburgh won’t bite on Soriano, in my humble opinion. I could be wrong.

Schierholtz has control and Russell too. They too have upcoming OFers they are putting in play : Jose Tabata and Travis Snider are mid-20s, but still developing to their peak. Soriano is a vet, and that might help, but we eat 75% of the contract or more to get prospects, I bet, and the prospects you are wanting, I think.

Heredia is a name prospect that is top 5.

MichiganGoat

I think you are right and Schierholtz might be more desirable to them and might get a us a better return, but to the larger question- I think the Pirates are absolutely wanting to make a move and make a playoff push. The question remains: How much will they give up to get a piece or two.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

As little as possible. Maybe someone else that gives up – SD or TOR or SEA – that might be more suited to their price range.

Hansman1982

This is the third year in a row they’re flirting with success. If they were planning on contending yet, what in the hell is their idea of contention.

A Gregg/Soriano deal where Soriano is nearly free should generate a ton of interest on their end and get us a decent prospect.

MichiganGoat

Hans agreed, it is time for the Pirates to step up an make a move and finally get over that .500 hump and push toward the playoffs. They’ve waited long enough and if I’m a Pirate fan I’d be screaming if I heard my FO based up on a great (free) package because I didn’t want to give up one of my many prospects.

Just wait until the day we start to trade prospects for players… the backlash should be fun

Eric

I wouldn’t expect a high return for Gregg at all.

KidCubbie

So when players start getting suspended for taking PEDs will it be called getting Brauned? Like, ” hey I’m suspended for the rest of the season.” Dude you got Brauned so hard.

MichiganGoat

Maybe but if the world wants to replace the word Douche with Braun I’d support that.

http://none millhah

what a braun-bag!

MichiganGoat

Braun-nozzle

http://none millhah

he’s been up to some braun-baggery

sven-erik312

Uh Oh, Here comes the BraunOuts

CubsFaninMS

Braunapotamos

Polar Bear

This^^^^^

http://sportsdanny@blogspot.com Dan

It is pointless to trade him and pay to have him play elsewhere. Good teammate, leader and it’s not his fault the tribune outbid themselves for him 7 yrs ago.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

In most cases, yes. In this case, no. He’s got one year left. He’s gonna be 38. If the Cubs were an AL team, then I’d consider the keep.

What if the Cubs rebuild envisions Lake in the OF? DeJesus? Jackson? another FA?

Soriano is not in the long-term picture, in most scenarios.

Eric

Weren’t we hearing where the Cubs might flip Olt to the Yankees?

Austin8466

For who? Olt is a better prospect than any single prospect in the Yankees organization. I, for one, am excited about Olt. I hope we hang onto him.

Chad

Why? Because the rankings say so? He has struggled with health this year which has hurt his numbers. He definitely wasn’t the rangers #1 prospect this year, and we have no idea if his health is going to get better or just continue to deteriorate. I wouldn’t say he’s better than anything in the yankee’s system.

Josh

If they flipped him for Sanchez I would do that in a heartbeat.

X the Cubs Fan

I wish the Yankees were dumber and we could get Sanchez and have a future all star at every position in the minors. But Soriano for Mark Montgomery and Austin Romine would be pretty awesome.

Rich

Is trading Soriano, who is a good teammate and productive worth paying 18 million of his salary next season ? is the cost savings worth a mid level prospect ?

Eric

It is. After Sori is done next year, we still have the prospect.

Edwin

It depends on how much the front office values Soriano’s leadership and production versus what they’re being offered by other teams.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Is his leadership gonna take the Cubs to the world series next year? Or in 2015?

He’s at the end of his career. I appreciate his 7 years of Cubs play, good times and well…we know.

If the FO is actually keen on moving him, why would we be all upset? Garza offered more potential, and I bet many here were not too choked up about it. He’s been a leader too, as far as I can tell, and been reported.

MichiganGoat

Yeah I’d never let “leadership” get in the way of trading him. I’m sure leadership is great but in terms of value its just a tier or so above “scrappy.” Every team has veterans that can provide this mystical leadership.

Edwin

I’m not saying the Cubs shouldn’t trade him, I just think it might make a difference on how they value him. Not a huge difference, but some. The front office has talked in the past about how they value his leadership. Maybe they were just bullshitting though.

It seems like Jeff Samardjiza benefited from having a teammate like Ryan Dempster. In Texas Brandon McCarthy seemed to benefit from having Scott Feldman as a teammate. I don’t think Soriano’s “leadership” is going to transform a player like Junior Lake into Hanley Ramriez, but at the same time, I think it’s nice that some of the young players have a player like Soriano to help them adjust to life as an MLB player.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Leadership is important. If somehow 25 guys can get on one page for 1-2 years, you count yourself lucky.

Remember 1984. Team was put together almost entirely through Philly trades. Then, in 1985, all 5 starting pitchers hit the DL at some point or another. Blew it up. Drafted Maddux, Palmeiro, Grace in 1985/6. By Oct 1987, Dallas Green was gone as GM. The guy did what 5 GMs before him could not: get a team to the pinnacle of WS, and then resigned – which is almost always a force out deal. Tribune Co. & him were at odds – but I digress there.

MichiganGoat

Okay I’m confused how does the 84 team and Green’s amazing drafts after that relate to Soriano and leadership.

I agree leadership is essential and mandatory in the FO but the value of a players “veteran leadership” is a something we’ve created and inflated in value.

farmerjon

I recall Theo using the term “sunk-cost” when he first came on board, would seem to apply here.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

And, when possible, we can always fore go the remainder of a contract by trading a guy off. The project goes another direction – Cubs team, that is.

It may not be about his absolute remaining value to the team in leadership (how quantifiable?) or his statistics. As is, we run Soriano out there knowing pretty much what he will do: he’s a marginal starter, that is declining in production.

IDK maybe he is more valuable than his contract. I guess will see.

JBarnes

Gotta get one of the Yankees catching prospects right? Idk that I’m too thrilled with the pitchers they have in the minors but do have talented catching.

Soriano has been a great sounding board for the young Hispanics, but he isn’t in the long term plans. I’d like to see a trade get done, waive Borbon and bring up Vitters to get some ab’s in OF vs. LHP. See if there is any worth there or not and continue to let Lake get experience.

farmerjon

I could see Vitters as a platoon mate with Shierholtz.

X the Cubs Fan

Banuelos had Tommy John last season, but before that he was a top 30 prospects on some lists, Id definitely take a shot on him.

Murphy will fill in for Navarro when he is either traded or walks after the season.

Vidal Nuno is another back of the rotation SP that could be the next Travis Wood.

Dietrich Enns was used primarily as RP, but has been stretched out more this year and could be another back of the rotation SP or long relief.

Oswego chris

How about this FREAKINESS!…the last Cubs’ player to have a 4 hit game(prior to Junior Lake)in his first 4 games was catcher Steve LAKE in April of 1983.

Pathetically I watched that game…and yes, I thought the Cubs had two great catchers with Lake and Jody Davis.

I was wrong.

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Steve Lake! Wow I almost forget about him.

It was Ron Hassey and Jodi I remembered in that time frame – 1984ish.

wvcubsfan

Lake was a lefty too if I remember correctly.

pj

Lake/righty. Hassey was the lefty.

Assman22

Very early in Soriano talks…not nearly as far along as some have reported…still have a ways to go on money and Valbuena being talked about as well…Pirates still after Schierholtz/Gregg…Grilli’s MRI later today, go from there…Texas, among other teams, said to be interested in DeJesus…Dbacks/Tigers both interested in Barney…Indians still interested in Valbuena…nothing cooking on Villanueva…

http://deepcenterfield.blogspot.com Jason Powers

Hey ASSMAN!

He stole my move! I stopped short.

Back to trades. Good stuff. we appreciate.

Kramden

I live in NYC…

Radio talk is indicating he’s coming back to the Bronx.

I’d think their local sources for the Yankees are as good as the Local sources for the Cubs.

No clue who the Cubs will get in return though.

cubchymyst

So by Aug 1st half of the 25 man roster that started the year will be gone. I’d be shocked if the Cubs do not set a record for the number of players that appear in a game this year if this all happens.

Good Captain

Thanks A!

Any thoughts on the level/type player potentially coming back in such a trade?

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